Nike has canceled the prestigious EYBL AAU basketball season, closing one of the top avenues for college basketball coaches go evaluate high school-aged talent over the summer.
The cancellation, which is the latest in a long series of sporting events to be canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, was announced on Saturday.
“As we continue to navigate the evolving impact of COVID-19, we are cancelling the remainder of the 2020 EYBL season,” a league announcement read. “This was not a decision taken lightly, but the health and safety of our athletes, families, fans and employees is our top priority. We look forward to bringing the EYBL back in 2021.”
The EYBL included the Peach Jam, scheduled to be played from July 8-12 for the 25th consecutive year in North Augusta, South Carolina as the circuit’s championship and most prestigious event.
In order for AAU basketball to survive as a recruiting ground for college basketball coaches, the NCAA must re-open live recruiting, something that the organization just announced last week will remain closed through July 31, precipitating the EYBL’s closure.
Nike, which runs the EYBL in competition with other shoe company’s amateur circuits, said it is launching an exclusive video portal for coaches to evaluate prospects in the absence of AAU games.
Adidas and Under Armour have not announced plans for the future of their leagues, which have postponed the start of play.
